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Absent Qualia, Fading Qualia, Dancing Qualia

Chalmers, David J. (1995) Absent Qualia, Fading Qualia, Dancing Qualia. [Book Chapter]

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Abstract

In this paper I use thought-experiments to argue that functional organization fully determines conscious experience. These thought-experiments involve the gradual replacement of neurons by silicon chips, and similar scenarios. I argue that if "absent qualia" or "inverted qualia", are possible, then phenomena I call "fading qualia" and "dancing qualia" will be possible; but I argue that it is very implausible that fading or dancing qualia are possible. The resulting position is a sort of nonreductive functionalism.

Item Type:Book Chapter
Keywords:consciousness, qualia, experience, artificial intelligence, robots, functionalism
Subjects:Philosophy > Philosophy of Mind
ID Code:318
Deposited By: Chalmers, David J.
Deposited On:15 Jun 1998
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:53

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